Early Childhood Family Education news

Hello and welcome to school starting. As you get your older students involved in their learning activities, Don’t forget the preschool set. ECFE is getting ready to offer classes and events for the 2007-08 school year. Look below to see this fall’s start up offerings. • Lunch Bunch – A class for ages 0-5. This class is for the family to come together, play and bring along a lunch. • Wiggle Room – For ages 2-3. For the older toddler who is busy exploring their world. This class parents to see transitions can be handled, getting cooperation, and social skills. • Let’s Learn – Mondays 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Kimball school or Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. at the Eden Valley school. It is a class for 3-5 year olds. This is a class for children getting ready for Early Childhood Screening. We focus on encouraging school skills. • Baby Steps – Tuesdays 9:30-11 a.m. at Kimball school. It is for ages 0-2 years old. This is a class for the first time parent in E.C.F.E.. Baby Steps is a great baby and me outing. We will talk about attachment, baby development and other relevant issues. • Drop By & Play – The first Tuesday or Thursday of the month from October-April. This is a class for people doing daycare. Use it as a field trip for you and children once a month to come to school and have playtime in our playrooms in Kimball or Watkins. Look in the Cub Prints for more information or feel free to call E.C.F.E. at (320) 398-7700, ext. 229, for any questions you may have. Setting kids up for  starting school success Now that our older children have returned to school we need to tune into our children’s school experiences. Here are some helpful hints to get our kids to talk to us about their daily school activities. The more that you know about your child’s daily school activities the easier it is to lessen your child’s anxiety, monitor their growth and progress, and ensure a rewarding and satisfying school year. Take some extra time to talk to your child about her experiences. This checklist can serve as great discussion point for finding out: • Your child’s favorite school activity. • Their favorite part of the school day. • Their favorite things to do outdoors at school. • With whom she likes to play and what they enjoy most about them. • Your child’s biggest concern about school. • What your child does to comfort himself. • Her favorite mode of creative expression. • The things she does and doesn’t like to share. • The way she expresses her needs at school. • The way she expresses her anger at school.  Keep the lines of communication open with your children and school for a fuller and more satisfying school year. Good luck and good learning for your preschooler and your school age child.